Stuffed in Florida.
Sam Reinhart had a three-point night with an empty net goal and two assists to lead the Florida Panthers over the Columbus Blue Jackets, 4-0, on Tuesday night at FLA Live Arena.
Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk each had two-point nights, scoring a goal and an assist, and Brandon Montour and Aleksander Barkov scored for the Panthers.
Gustav Forsling and Sam Reinhart had two assists.
Sergei Bobrovsky had 22 saves to secure his first shutout this season, his first against the Blue Jackets, and the 38th of his career. Elvis Merzlikins had 23 saves on 26 shots.
Colin White (1:06) left the game due to an upper-body injury. Chris Tierney (4:02) also left the game following a hit by Jake Christiansen. Former Blue Jacket Zac Dalpe played 13:19 for the Panthers and had two shots on goal and a blocked shot.
Close But No Cigar
The Blue Jackets arguably played a better game against the Panthers than when they beat them, 5-3, at Nationwide Arena on Nov. 20. In that game, the Blue Jackets were severely outshot 50-23 and out-chanced, but were able to skate away with the surprising victory.
In Tuesday's affair, the shots and chances were a little more even. Columbus had a couple of shots hit iron but were unable to strike. They had the 5V5 xGF edge over the Panthers: 1.98-1.7 per Natural Stat Trick.
The Panthers are 13-4-2 when scoring first this season and 11-1-2 when leading after one period, so it was already a tough task when Florida entered the second period already up a goal.
The Panthers have two comeback wins this season which is the fewest in the league after leading the league with 29 last season.
Columbus killed their three penalties to continue a 100% rate over the last three games (10-for-10). Their power play was 0-for-3, dropping them to 2-for-27 on the road this season.
Columbus has not won three in a row all season.
Brick Wall Bob
Bobrovsky hasn't had a strong season (6-8-1, 3.35 GAA, .889 SV%) but he was strong enough on Tuesday.
With the win, he improves to 9-2-1 in 12 career games against Columbus, and he has a .924 SV% and 2.49 GAA against his old team.
One thing he had never done is shut out the Blue Jackets, until Tuesday. Bobrovsky's goals saved above expected was 2.1. Merzlikins' was -0.17 and he allowed one low-danger, one medium, and one high-danger goal according to MoneyPuck.
Nothing Doing
For only the second time this season, the Blue Jackets failed to crack the scoreboard. They were shut out by the Bruins, 4-0, in Columbus on Oct. 28. Johnny Gaudreau, Patrik Laine, Boone Jenner, and Co. will look to keep their personal hot stretches going when the team navigates toward Tampa for their showdown with the Lightning on Thursday.
Columbus had four third-period shots on goal. They out-hit Florida, 23-15, lost the face-off battle, 23-22, and had 13 blocked shots to Florida's 16.
The Blue Jackets have lost a league-worst 13 games by three-plus goals.
Bolts
The Blue Jackets continue their Florida trip when they take on the Lightning on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 7:00 pm ET. Tonight, the Lightning defeated the Seattle Kraken, 6-2, in Tampa.
